GB2568921A

GB2568921A - Portable wireless communication device

Info

Publication number: GB2568921A
Application number: GB1719985.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adam Cushion Clive; Leigh Cushion Jennifer
Original assignee: Fern Communications Ltd
Current assignee: Fern Communications Ltd
Priority date: 2017-11-30
Filing date: 2017-11-30
Publication date: 2019-06-05
Also published as: GB201719985D0

Abstract

A portable wireless access point (WAP) device 1 has a waterproof housing 2, a battery 25, and at least one coaxial antenna 10 with a gain of at least 5dbi. The antenna incorporates a flexible plastic portion protruding from the housing. The access point device may have one or more magnetic portions for releasable securing to a metallic surface and may be secured to a nacelle of a wind turbine. The access point device may be configured as a router, mesh gateway or repeater and may form a self-healing mesh network.

Description

PORTABLE WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE

Technical Field

The invention relates generally to a device for network connection and in particular to a portable wireless access point (WAP) device.

Background

When working in hazardous environments, reliable communications are paramount. Known wireless access points (WAP) and repeaters allow for communication of Wi-Fi devices in such environments; however, loss of signal due to solid structures, distance and weather conditions can make communications unreliable.

Summary

In its broadest independent aspect, there is provided a portable wireless access point (WAP) device comprising a housing, a power source, and at least one coaxial antenna with a gain of at least 5dbi.

This unusual combination of features is particularly advantageous because it improves wireless communication despite solid structures, distance and weather conditions, representing a significant improvement over standard Wi-Fi mesh nodes. Due to the presence of the high gain antenna of at least 5dbi, typically in the region 5 to 7 dbi, the portable WAP device provides robust and rugged Wi-Fi in any desired location, particularly in offshore renewable energy systems such as wind, tidal and wave systems. The portable WAP device may also be referred to as a wireless network controller.

In a dependent aspect, the at least one antenna is a rugged or ruggedized antenna. This increases output and sensitivity of the antenna.

In a dependent aspect, the at least one antenna incorporates a portion which protrudes from said housing; said protruding portion being principally of relatively flexible plastics material. This allows the antenna to protrude sufficiently for improved reception and transmission whilst also being sufficiently compliant to resist occasional knocks.

In a dependent aspect, the device is configured as a router, mesh gateway and/or repeater. Alternatively, or additionally, a router can comprise the portable WAN device. Advantageously, the portable WAN device is not only configured as a managed access point, but also as a router, mesh gateway and repeater, all of which may be comprised in the same device, for comprehensive control and monitoring. The WAP device is thus a single, compact, reliable and high-performance solution compared to known Wi-Fi nodes.

In broad aspects, a nacelle (e.g. of a wind turbine), or a wind turbine, comprises a portable WAP device as described above. Advantageously, the WAP device may be installed in the nacelle/wind turbine to provide connectivity to the nacelle for example during installation or maintenance of wind turbines. Advantageously, the nacelle (usually made of fibre glass) or wind turbine can act as a hotspot for ships or other devices offshore.

In a further broad aspect, the invention envisages a water-resistant junction box comprising a WAP device according to any appropriate preceding aspect.

In a further aspect, there is provided a method of creating a self-forming, self-healing mesh network comprising the step of providing a portable WAP as described above.

Advantageously, the portable WAP device represents a self-forming, self-healing and selfmeshing access point (node). This enables reliable wireless communication with improved output and sensitivity in locations at sea for example, where such networks would not otherwise exist.

Brief Description of the Figures

Figure 1 shows a wireless access point (WAP) device; and

Figure 2 shows an antenna for use in the portable WAP device.

Figure 3 shows the wifi hotspot in side elevation.

Figures 4 show a wind turbine equipped with a plurality of devices; a building with a plurality of devices; and a ship with a plurality of devices.

Detailed Description of the Figures

Figure 1 shows a wireless access point (WAP) device 1 with a housing 2 which includes a radio card 23 for communication with wireless devices such as PCs, laptops and PDAs, and a battery 25. In this example, the device 1 is connected via SMA connectors to two portable high-gain antennas 10, with a gain of minimum 5 dbi, each operating at 2.4 GHz. The data transfer rate is 3.5 to 4.2 Mbs, a typical bandwidth for a 300Mb file. A control board 26 with system software configures the functionality of the WAP device 1. In particular, the device 1 may be configured as a router, mesh gateway and/or repeater.

A power supply 3 is provided to power the access point device, in this example a POE (Power over Ethernet) injector with a PSU 3 pin power adapter. The housing 2 has a connector socket where one end of an ethernet connector cable 30 (e.g. RJ45, not shown) is received. The cable may be a CAT5e 500mm cable for example; its other end is connected in use, to a designated switch port of the nacelle for example. This installation results in the device 1 being live and able to self-mesh with other active nodes in the mesh network. Preferably, an indicator such as a blue LED flashes to indicate when connection of the device 1 is established. Accordingly, with minimum configuration, the device 1 has plug and play connectivity conveniently achieved.

The dimensions of the housing 2 in this example are 220mm, 160mm x 100mm, with the device 1 operating in a temperature range of 0 to 50 degrees Celsius. The weight is approximately, 1 kg, the device representing a portable, compact solution for offshore applications. The housing 2 is preferably waterproof and may incorporate a handle and/or wheels for ease of transport.

The antennas 10 are portable and are each screwed to SMU connectors on the device. The device 1 may be then placed on a crossbeam of a nacelle of a wind turbine for example. The housing 2 preferably has a magnetic element 27, such as neodymium magnet feet, to secure the unit to the crossbeam. Once installed, the device 1 may be in wireless communication with a PC or wireless device on a ship remote to the wind turbine for example.

Figure 2 shows a portable antenna 10 for use in the portable WAP device 1 of figure 3. The antenna 10 is colinear and has a SMA connector 11. The antenna has a coaxial cable with at least one rugged (ruggedized) portion 12. Importantly, the antenna 10 is high gain, at least 5dbi, usually in the range 5-7 dbi, preferably 5.2 dbi.

The antenna frequency in this example is 2.4 GHz, with a power of 30 watts and impedance of 50 ohms. The Voltage Standing Wave Radio (VSWR) of 1.5:1. The output and sensitivity of the rugged antenna 120 is thus advantageously boosted. The dimensions of the antenna may be cut to frequency, and the length in this example is 18 mm.

One of the figures 4 shows a device secured to the nacelle of a windturbine and one or more further devices secured magnetically to the inside of the metallic walls of a tubular windturbine mast.

Claims

1. A portable wireless access point (WAP) device comprising a housing, a power source, and at least one coaxial antenna with a gain of at least 5dbi.

2. A portable WAP device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one antenna is a rugged antenna.

3. A portable WAP device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the at least one antenna incorporates a portion which protrudes from said housing; said protruding portion being principally of relatively flexible plastics material.

4. A portable WAP device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device is configured as at least one of the group of: router, mesh gateway and repeater.

5. A portable WAP device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a waterproof housing.

6. A portable WAP device according to any one fo the preceding claims, further comprising one or more magnetic portions for releasable securing said device to a metallic surface.

7. A router comprising a portable WAP device according to any one of the preceding claims.

8. A nacelle comprising a portable WAP device according to any one of the preceding claims.

9. A wind turbine comprising a portable WAP device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

10. A waterproof box comprising a portable WPA device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

11. A method of forming a self-forming, self-healing mesh network comprising the step of providing a portable WAP device according to any of the preceding claims.